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Police hunt for fake widow reaping big from death of city husbands – PHOTOS


Police in Nairobi are searching for a woman accused of impersonating mourning widows and soliciting for funds from people.

There was online uproar over the weekend after photos of the suspect were shared on social media.

The woman was accused of stealing a mobile phone from a mourning widow and posing as her to solicit funds from the widow’s friends and relatives.

Kevin Otiende posted on Facebook his recent encounter with the woman.

‘BURIAL ARRANGEMENTS’

“The woman made her way into the residence of a friend who died earlier this week, where we were meeting for burial arrangements. We thought she’s a normal mourner, coming to condole with the family. She spent one hour talking to the widow, then she drugged her and took off with her phone.

“This morning she called many people asking for money.”

Otiende, believing that it was the widow, sent her Sh7,500.

PHOTOS | COURTESY
PHOTOS | COURTESY

The suspect was caught on surveillance cameras walking into the widow’s house in a blue scarf and leaving in a pink scarf allegedly stolen from the widow.

The incident was reported at Kasarani Police Station and Safaricom have since blocked her line.

SIMILAR FATE

Some Kenyans online identified the woman as a suspect in other such cases.

Mary Opiyo said; “Yes, she is very notorious, she robbed people in Lang’ata few months ago. She comes in camouflaged as mourner who gives a helping hand, doing chores and preparing tea hence gaining trust of the mourners to a point of dispersing any suspicion. Then all phones go missing then you have no one to suspect.”

Keru Wa Njenga narrated having suffered similar fate in the hands of the said woman.

“Oh my God this lady did the same to me during my late husband’s matanga in May 2016. I hope she is caught. Oh Lord…the trauma she caused me. She went to my bedroom stole clothes and from my phone she managed to steal Sh20,000.”

Another widow, Brenda Mweu recounted having suffered at the hands of the same woman.

“On April 24, when I was mourning my husband this woman came to my house and pretended to be a colleague to my late husband. She stole my phone and called people pretending it was me and asked for money. The trauma she caused me, I’m yet to heal.”